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Terahertz Spectroscopic / Imaging Analysis System
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Electronic Measuring Instruments
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Supporting
Short Time Delivery to Market
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Fatal
Delays in Introducing Products |
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A serious problem
for system manufacturers is product
introduction delays. Recent product
cycles have been incredibly short
and bear no comparison to the
past. Personal computers receive
a facelift every season, while
new cellular phone models stay
new for only about three months
after they hit the market. Within
this very short time, therefore,
the pressure is intense to bring
out the next product with some
kind of added value. In addition,
the quality of products has changed
enormously as the serviceablility
of the man-machine interface has
improved dramatically. As one
example, ordinary cellular phones
already feature video images.
All of these factors point to
the need to introduce unique and
more advanced IC devices quickly.
Put another way, there is no future
for a company that falls one step
behind with product introductions
and suddenly finds itself in second
place. Missing out on de facto
standards will ensure that profits
will not rise. |
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Building
a New Business Model to be More Competitive |
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| A system manufacturer
can survive only if the IC maker
can quickly release a distinctive
IC device to the market. One possibility
for a new move appropriate for
the system manufacturers' market
could be a quick logic modification
service based on an E-Beam direct-write
model. This concept is more easily
understood if it is put in the
context of a global business.
A European or American customer
modifies the logic during the
day (nighttime in Japan) and sends
it to a Japanese plant when morning
breaks in Japan. The Japanese
plant manufactures the device
during the day (nighttime in Europe
or the United States) and obtains
a test result before night falls.
The European or American customer,
located where it is now daylight
(nighttime in Japan), verifies
the data and goes on to the next
process. Now that various ideas
can be built into an IC device,
the modification of one layer
can modify the logic characteristics,
making a business model such as
the quick logic modification service
a distinct possibility. If such
a service can be realized, the
IC maker and the company's customers
will be able to enjoy a competitive
edge for some time to come. |
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